Hosiery display form



0ct.'29, I940. F. B. GUTERMUTH 2,219,773

HOSIERY DISPLAY FORM Filed July 14, 1931 A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOSIERY DISPLAY FORM- Fredrick B. Gutermuth, Milwaukee, Wis Application July 14, 1937', seriai No. 153,591: Claims. (01. 223-75) This invention relates to hosiery display forms. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved inconspicuous stable support for hosiery display forms which may be readily at- 5 tached to the form without objectionable distortion or injury to the hosiery applied to the form. Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, either expressed or implied, from the following description of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side View of a display form embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the display form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the display form shown in Fig. 1, showing the method of attaching the support.

Fig. 4 is a view of the supporting member. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view along the lines 5-5 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a hosiery display form having a slightly modified support.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view along the 5 line 'Il of Figs. 6 and 8.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the modified form shown in Fig. 6.

The display form illustrated comprises a hollow body portion II shaped to simulate a human foot 30 with a connecting leg portion. It has been found that the most artistic and effective display is produced by a form designed to rest upon the toes and ball of the foot with the heel slightly elevated and retained in that position by an invisible or 35 inconspicuous support.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the underside of the ball of the foot is formed to provide a groove I2. A support in the form of a clip I3, made of relatively heavy resilient Wire, has

4 two end strands I4 which may be pressed together and inserted within the groove I2, where the clip will be securely held by the resilient outward pressure of the strands I 4 against the sides of the groove I2. The sides I5 of the groove I2 are preferably undercut, as shown, to aflord more secure anchorage for the clip.

The clip I 3 and the ball of the foot thus provide a secure, inconspicuous base, supporting the display form. The end portion I6 of the clip is pref- 50 erably laterally spread or extended to give adequate and stable support to the form. Likewise the end portion I6 of the clip may be bent relative to the strands I4, to support the heel at any height desired.

55 In use, the stocking I1 is first applied over the foot and leg portions of the form I I, as indicated in Fig. 1, and thereafter the base or clip I3 is. applied, pressing the stocking into the groove I2. It should be noted that the application of the clip requires no twisting of the stocking, and that the 5 groove I2 may be made very shallow, so that undesired distortion or stretching of the stocking is avoided. Likewise the sides of the groove are made substantially parallel. to the sides of the foot, to further minimize the bad efiects of stock- 10 ing distortion.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In this form, the body portion II of the form has a lug I8 formed beneath the heel. A spring clip I9, likewise of resilient wire, 15 has a loop 20 which may be sprung around the lug I8, and has downturned end strands 2| designed to serve as a base for supporting the display form, coacting with the toe of the form to produce a three-point support. The sides of the lug are 20 also undercut to allow more secure engagement between the lug and the clip 19. As in the form first above described, the stocking is first applied to the foot and leg portions of the display form I I and the spring clip I9 thereafter attached over the stocking.

If desired, the heel clip I9 may of course be made to grip the inside of a groove upon the heel, as does the clip I3 in the form first described, rather than engaging about 9, lug.

Likewise, if desired, the spring clip I3 may be modified by forming it with the strands I4 connected at the forward end to form a loop, and the rear portion I6 separated into two supporting strands, in a manner similar to that of the clip I9.

Various changes may be made in any of the embodiments of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hosiery display device the combination of a three-dimensional form simulating a human foot and having a support-receiving formation 5 on its bottom and disposed wholly between the sides of the foot, and a detachable support for sustaining said form in upright position with the heel thereof elevated, said support comprising a pair of arms, and a resilient connection therebetween for effecting a gripping pressure between said arms and said formation.

2. In a hosiery display device the combination of a three-dimensional form simulating a human foot and having a support-receiving formation on its bottom and disposed wholly between the side walls of the foot, and a resilient member in gripping engagement with said formation, said member having an end portion spaced below the heel of said form, the toe of said form and. said end portion coacting to form a base for sustaining said form in upright position with the heel thereof elevated.

3. In a hosiery display device the combination of a three-dimensional form simulating a human foot and-having a support-receiving formation beneath the toe portion and spaced inwardly from the sides thereof, and a resilient member beneath the heel portion and spaced inwardly from the sides thereof, and a resilient member in ripping engagement with said formation, said member having portions extending downwardly below the heel of said form and coacting with the toe portion of said form to provide a base on which said form rests in upright position with the heel thereof elevated.

5. In a hosiery display device the combination of a form simulating a human foot and having a lug on the under side thereof and also having a forward portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface, and a resilient member in gripping engagement with said lug and having a portion extending from said lug and adapted to rest on said supportin surface, the said forward portion of said form and said extended portion of said member being arranged to coact with said supporting surface in a manner to support said form in upright position.

FREDRICK B. GUTERMUTH. 

